Tadej Pogacar experienced a scary moment. © ANSA / GIAN EHRENZELLER

After a nasty fall: Great concern for Pogacar's fiancée

Worried about his girlfriend Urska Zigart, who suffered a serious fall, cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar narrowly missed out on another stage win at the Tour de Suisse.

June 18, 2026

From: dpa/apa/fop

After a comeback in the final phase of the second stage over 157,7 kilometers around Locarno, the Slovenian world champion was only four seconds behind a six-man breakaway group, in which the Frenchman Romain Gregoire took the stage win.

Pogacar's thoughts, however, were with his fiancée Urska Zigart, who had suffered a serious fall during the Tour de Suisse women's cycling race, which was being held at the same time.

The cigarette lay motionless.

Zigart crashed on a bump in the road as she approached the finish line in Locarno, falling headfirst onto the asphalt. The runner-up in last year's Tour de Romandie lay motionless. Examinations at the hospital revealed that the 29-year-old suffered a broken jaw and facial abrasions; she is also suspected of having a concussion.

Tadej Pogacar and his fiancée Urska Zigart at last year's Tour de France. © ANSA / MARTIN DIVISEK

Immediately after the stage, Pogacar was seen talking on a mobile phone. His own race thus became secondary for the Slovenian.

Pogacar clearly in the lead in the overall standings

In the overall standings, the exceptional Slovenian rider, who is aiming for his fifth Tour de France victory in a few weeks, still holds a comfortable lead after his solo win in the opening stage. Tokyo Olympic champion Richard Carapaz is already 2:50 minutes behind in second place.

Pogacar had allowed the breakaway riders to stay on for a long time on the second stage before he pushed the pace hard in the final phase on the two category 3 mountains and almost single-handedly closed the gap of over two minutes.